Lauren Arnell addresses the team during Round 3. Image: AFL Photos.

Yartapuulti senior coach Lauren Arnell says she is expecting a hotly contested game in Perth as her side prepares for Sunday’s Round 4 clash against Waalitj Marawar. 

Speaking to the media on Thursday, Arnell reflected on last week’s record-breaking win over the SUNS, outlined what to expect from the Eagles, and highlighted how a focus on versatility has been crucial in both selection and managing the team’s injury list. 

Arnell also confirmed that talented forward Lauren Young will take part in a match scrimmage this weekend as she moves closer to her long-awaited AFLW debut, having successfully returned to full-contact training after rupturing her ACL in the 2023 SANFLW season. 

Arnell on the record-breaking win against the Gold Coast SUNS 
“I think to crack the ton in AFLW…I think many people forget we play about 80 minutes of footy, and the men's games are about 120 minutes. So, 80 minutes of footy and scoring 108, there's a few things going right. I was certainly proud of the group in the way we went about last weekend, and I’m also mindful that it's Round 3. It was our first win of the year, and now we travel to Perth with what's always been a building rivalry against the Eagles. And we’re very much looking forward to that.” 

Chloe Gaunt celebrates a goal during Round 3. Image: Matt Sampson.

Arnell on the upcoming Round 4 clash against the Eagles 
“We’re two similar squads. I think the numbers show that we both make up two out of the three youngest groups in the competition. There are some seriously talented players that will be playing against each other on Sunday in Perth – it will certainly be a hotly contested game. I think it's important to put our best foot forward whoever we play, and it's always been a challenge for any team to fly to Perth and perform. We found an ability to do that for the first time last year and beat them on their home turf, and I've no doubt that'll make for an even more contested game this year. You never like getting beaten at home, so I'm sure there'll be a strong contest on Sunday from the Eagles and from us.” 

Arnell on Lauren Young’s expected timeline to debut 
“Lauren Young's going really well – she's very, very close. We made a decision, with her and the medical team, this week to send her to match scrimmage, which the AFL puts together with all the non-selected players. Because lists are so small – we have 31 on our list – and there’s no national reserves competition in AFLW, the AFL every week put on a scrimmage game with all of the players who are non-selected and healthy enough to play. What's really exciting is that Lauren will participate in that and go with our medical team. She’ll be under strict load management and have an introduction into some actual game minutes. She's trained so well with full contact against her teammates, and now she'll get to play against some opposition on Saturday, with a view to coming into the side, all going well, the following week. She's worked so hard, and I couldn't be more pleased with how she's performing at training. It's a great opportunity for her this weekend. I don't have any interest in reining in Lauren Young at this point. She's certainly done all the work, and she's ready to get some minutes in the legs and play against some opposition. I'm feeling really, really excited for her.” 

Cheyenne Hammond is a possible inclusion this week after recovering well from a foot injury. Image: AFL Photos.

Arnell on other returns and debutants 
“Jasmine Evans is really close (to making her AFLW debut), and Cheyenne Hammond becomes available this week as well. We'll announce selection tonight with that crew absolutely in the mix, and Kirsty Lamb comes out with a hamstring injury, so there'll be some opportunities for at least one player. We’re obviously disappointed for Kirsty to be managing a hamstring, but it’s exciting for those who've put a lot of work in over a long period of time in the rehab, and Jas Evans and Cheyenne Hammond are two of those players who become available this week.” 

Arnell on preparing her players to be versatile performers 

“I spoke post-game around versatility, and to be really honest, it's something I've led with before pre-season started. I met with every player around dual roles, and so that's meant once we've had some more players available…we've had a longer injury list than we would have liked…and with Amelie Borg coming back over the weekend, it allowed Indy (Tahau) to go forward. Some other things that happened on field too – Maria Moloney has gone out to the wing and played a role for our team in the last two weeks, and Shineah Goody on the ball has been another move, as well as Ella Heads on the wing. There's been some nice versatility in our group, and its credit to the players who have shown that they can play in multiple positions. It allows our team to be better. I think it's something we've always worked away at (versatility). I think this year it's been more of an upfront conversation that I've had with players to start pre-season, so the mentality hasn't changed, but I think the openness and the transparency with the playing group in saying we knew we were coming in with a reasonable injury list, just purely based on our ACL returns this year, and so we needed versatility when we started pre-season. So, I think it's really just a case of needing to do it because we have such small lists in AFLW.”